Why a 2002 romantic comedy became a target for punctuation sticklers everywhere

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2002 film Two Weeks Notice brought Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant together as an unlikely pair in New York City. While it found commercial success, the movie is perhaps equally famous for a grammatical error in its title that drew the ire of linguistic purists worldwide.

Directed by Marc Lawrence, the film follows Lucy Kelson, an idealistic lawyer, and George Wade, a narcissistic billionaire developer. Lucy is hired to manage George's affairs, leading to a codependent relationship that eventually pushes her to resign. Despite the film's predictable romantic comedy structure, it was notable for being the first major Hollywood production to film in New York City following the September 11 attacks.

The movie grossed $199 million worldwide against a $60 million budget, receiving mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the chemistry between the leads, others felt the script lacked originality. Beyond the screen, the film became a lightning rod for pedantry. In the best-selling book Eats, Shoots & Leaves, author Lynne Truss famously criticized the film's title for omitting an apostrophe, arguing it should be written as Two Weeks' Notice. Truss even posed for the book's cover art with a marker, ready to correct the movie's poster.

Behind the scenes, the production was physically demanding for Lawrence, who suffered from sinus infections, headaches, and a slipped disc while managing the project. The film remains a quintessential example of the genre, bolstered by cameos from figures like Donald Trump and Mike Piazza. Though it failed to capture the same critical acclaim as Lawrence and Bullock's previous collaboration, Miss Congeniality, it remains a staple of early 2000s cinema, remembered as much for its grammatical controversy as for its on-screen romance.

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